THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2813, 30 March 1882, Page 2

THE GREAT FIRE IN NEW YORK.

American papers give the following details of the fire and loss of life which occurred in the leading newspaper offices at New York on the 31st January last:—

The fire originated in the building formerly occupied by the New York " World," in the same block with the “ Times ” building, but separated from it by an intervening building. There was a slight snow falling, but the air was dry and crisp, with a light breeze from" the north, which increased the difficulty of controlling the fire. The block in which the fire' occurred is an irregularly shaped gore, with the building, formerly occupied by the “ World " oh its south-east corner, the ‘‘Times’’ building occupying the entire northern angle of the gore. • The "Tribune” office is diagonally across Nassau street from the “ Times ” office, and the “Sun" office is on the upper corner of the same block with the "Tribune" building. The “ Observer " office was at No, 37, Park row, in the old “World" building. There were a large number of offices, stores, and advertising agencies in that and the adjoining houses. In one of these offices there were a number of women employed, and it is reliably , asserted that one woman fell or leaped from the roof immediately over Pettingill’s advertising office and was tilled. There are rumors that another woman was burned in the offices, but, these cannot be verified. The pecuniary loss will be very heavy, both in the buildings and stock - in the stores, including a large supply of rubber, and machinery, &C. It is stated that four bodies were recovered in Nassau-street of persons killed by jumping from the windows. It isfeared that the loss of life will be heavier , than was at first believed. The buildings were: crowded with employees, and very few could have escaped by stairways. An old greyhaired woman was seen at the fourth story of the “World" appealing for help. Her lips were seen to move, but her voice could not be heard. All who saw heir were horror-stricken. The flames raged about her person, igniting her hair and clothing. She fell back into theffiames, and was not seen again. A young girl, wearing a blue dress, who was cut off frorp the stairs, ran to the fourth Story window on the Park Eow side, and ‘Stood hesitatingly while the flames and smoke encircled her. “Jump! jump;” shouted the spectators. Casting a frightened look below, she threw herself out and fell on the stone pavement. When picked up life was extinct. Her head had been crushed beyond recognition. A few minutes later a negro woman appeared at the third story window of the “World’s" office on Park Eow side, and also jumped out to the sidewalk. She was badly injured and was taken to the Chambersstreet Hospital. Several men and women saved themselves by leaping from the third windows into Nassau-street. At the time the woman who was killed ■jumped from the window, there were two men hanging by their finger-ends. The ladders were too short to reach them, and they were saved by the firemen mounting on one another’s shoulders and the men let themselves down by their aid. Among the burned buildings were the “ Scientific American,” the “Scotch American Journal," the “Turf," ‘‘Field and Farm," Thompson’s “Bank Note and Commercial Reporter," and advertising agents’ offices and various manufactories. An old gentleman with white hair got out of the fourth storey window on the Beckham-street side. He stood on the sill fully five minutes, holding on to the narrow piece with his hands. The flames' were approaching him but he saw ho chance of escape. The firemen reached the ladder, but it Only reached the storey below him. The crowd in street got a tarpaulin, and a score of willing hands braved the dangers of falling debris and cinders, and a shout went up, plainly heard by the old gentleman, to “ Jump, jump for your life; we’ll save you." But he looked at the 60 feet distance below him, and could not muster up courage enough to make the attempt. He turned forward facing the street, and with his his hands behind him stood like a statue braving death. Meantime two brave men got a short ladder, went up the long fire ladder and held it up to him and steadied it while he slowly climbed down. Just as he reached the long ladder Humes burst through the window where he had stood, but he readied the sidewalk in safety, amid the cheers of the crowd.

When the flumes did break out they raged with extraordinary fury. They leaped from the bottom to the top of the building' like a flash, and rolled upwards in great sheets. A score of men stretched a blanket under the windows of Park Row, and some were saved who were shut off from the stairs; others refused to jump, and were taken down the ladders. One woman sprang out and went through the blanket! A girl stepped from the window in Beckam street at the call of a fireman, but was unable to reach him, when ho. held out his hand, on which she stepped and was safely lowered. A man who ventured too far into the theatre alley, toward the burning building, was overcome by the smoke, but was dragged to a place of safety. One who escaped says that the two men—Snell and Brown—whom he left behind him in the burning building must have perished, and from the screams and cries on the upper floors and half ways, which he heard as he. ran along, he fully believed that ten of a dozen women were caught and unable to escape. Four or five hundred persons were in the building. When the fire began several heroic deeds were noticed. ESTIMATE OK LOSS. “ Scientific American,” SIOO,OOO, principally in valuable models and patents; Rev. Irenreus Prime’s “New. York Observer,” SIO,OOO ; “ Turf, Field, and Farm,”, SSOOO 1 “Scottish American," SIO,OOO ; “ National Bank Note Reporter," the “Retailer,” the “Evening Press.” The fire burned through into the “ Times" building, but did no damage to the editorial rooms.' The composing rooms were flooded with, water. There were a number of employees in the buildings, and a great loss of life is conceded. The total money loss is over $1,000,000.